Public help sought in 35-year-old case of body found in Burrard Inlet

The BC Coroners Service and RCMP are asking for the public’s help in solving a nearly 35-year-old mystery involving a woman whose remains were recovered from Burrard Inlet.

On the morning of Dec. 12, 1985, a crane operator at Versatile Shipyards spotted a body floating in the inlet. The body of an older Caucasian female was later recovered.

Post-mortem investigations determined that the woman, believed to be between the ages of 55 and 70, had drowned.

Other physical details are as follows:

Caucasian female: 170 cm (5’6″) in height;

Blue eyes with recently dyed blond hair; and

Two notable scars on the abdomen, including a 12.7cm (5″) vertical scar (mid-abdomen) and a 5cm (2″) lateral scar on the right side of the abdomen (her appendix had been previously removed);

Upper row of teeth replaced by dentures and lower row of teeth missing, and there was severe curving of the spine, which is consistent with scoliosis.

At the time of her death, she was wearing maroon pants (size 16, Sears brand), a long-sleeved black button-up blouse over a white turtleneck, a green wool vest with brown buttons, a grey wool winter hip-length coat and white dress gloves.

The woman wore black zippered rubber boots. The label inside each boot had the word “Bella” written in blue pen.

Aside from clothing, a number of other distinct personal effects were recovered, including a good-luck horseshoe and a pair of gold earrings.